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Michele Bachmann wields national security credentials

Bachmann is following a well-worn path for prominent national political figures. | Jay Westcott/POLITICO

The tea party darling had established herself as a flame-throwing media star, and her colleagues harbored concerns that she would not exercise the discretion required of panel members. In 2007, Bachmann told a Minnesota newspaper she claimed to “know of an Iranian plan for the partition of Iraq in which Iran would control half the country and set it up as ‘a terrorist safe haven zone’ and a staging area for attacks around the Middle East and on the United States.”

“If you’re looking for media and controversy, that’s not the committee to be on,” a Republican familiar with internal discussions about Bachmann’s appointment to the intelligence committee said at the time.
But in less than six months on the panel, she’s earned the confidence of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle, who praise her for showing up to meetings, doing her homework and asking incisive questions.

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Bachmann is following a well-worn path for lawmakers who hope to become prominent national political figures. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi served on the intelligence committee, and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, previously known best for her work on domestic issues, sought a seat on the Armed Services Committee two years into her first term. Now, Clinton is the nation’s top diplomat as President Barack Obama’s secretary of state.

Bachmann’s aspiration for higher office has been an open secret on Capitol Hill for quite some time. And while many viewed her choice of intelligence over a seat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee as a sign she might run for president, those close to her say there’s a strategy behind her interest in intelligence.

“It’s her interest in national security issues — that’s been something that she’s long been concerned about, and that comes, at least partly, from her concern for her children and her foster children,” a Bachmann spokesman said Tuesday. “She sees intelligence as a way to take an active part in … issues dealing with national security.”

When asked whether there were additional discussions over what Bachmann could and could not talk about as she transitions from lawmaker to presidential candidate, the spokesman said Bachmann took the “inaugural steps that are normal” for any new intel committee member when she received briefings from committee staffers and other members on protocol.

“There haven’t been further discussions about how it would affect the campaign. She fully understands what’s expected of her as a member of the committee and looks forward to continuing to contribute,” the spokesman added.

In Monday’s debate, she showed a new balance — reaching out to more establishment Republicans on some issues without alienating her tea party base. She repeatedly connected her work in the backrooms of Congress to positions that play well with the grass roots.

The same Michelle Bachmann who voted to extend the illegal Patriot Act. She is a RINO not to be trusted.

Ron Paul got a majority of the audience applause, and won most of the post debate polls. The mainsteam media will stop at nothing to marginalize Ron Paul, because he is the only candidate for sound money, an end to foreign occupation and wars, and adherence to the Constitution.

Just goes to show why more and more why people don't trust the mainstream media anymore...their agenda is to just put another puppet in the White House that will serve the existing power structure. This may have worked in 2008, but people are sick and tired of being lied to by both political parties. Ron Paul will prevail in 2012 because he is the only one to tell us the truth...period!

Regardless of what "national security credential" Bachman tries to sell herself with, nothing will ever change the fact that the woman has a below average IQ and is not only not even remotely qualified to be President, she is not qualified to serve in Congress. When will Americans smarten up and insist on laws that screen and rigorously test all candidates for higher elected office? much like every company in the USA does when it subjects people to their "hiring process." It's ridiculous. You would think Americans would want the brightest and most psychologically balanced and most qualified people to govern their country. It's obvious that the current political system is not working. Come on folks, Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin are candidates for POTUS? That is seriously degrading the office. The republicans have already made a carnival show out of their primaries.

I'll bet none of the republican candidates would ever think of smuggling military guns to Mexican drug gangs like Obama and Holder did in "Operation Fast and Furious." What do the Obama supporters think about that? The silence is deafening...............

Since we know that Politico actually hates all conserv Pubs, this is suspicious. Michelle did fine last night but when Allen talks about her credentials, one knows that he and nobody on Politico would vote for any conserv and surely not Sarah, Michelle, or even Newt, Mittens, Paws, or Perry. Oh baby they would tell us the Hunt is good for the Party, (he isn't) but these flacks for Bama would. No, Michelle will not be appearing in Politico blurbs if she is chosen for the VEEP for the eventual winner. They will hate and rip her to shreds. No one trusts Politico now but they sure can push their baloney like the Gutir. story from ILL. when he is just another corrupt Chicago thug type. LOL

Thanks for raising this issue, Politico. It crossed my mind while watching the GOP debate last night. Sorry. You just don't share national security intelligence on national TV! She did well otherwise as a debater although I disagree with most of her positions.

"National Security Credentials" and Michele Bachmann are two terms that just make no sense together.

What a joke. This fool with a "law degree" from a fake evangelical university (Orel Roberts...give me a break) based on "Biblical Law" classes probably doesn't even understand 99% of ANYTHING she even hears while attending intel meetings.

I'm frankly shocked that, despite his better judgment, Boehner let her sit on the intel committee at all. It's hilarious that he had to warn her multiple times to keep her d-mn mouth shut about the 1% of the material that she even understands. I've always been stunned this imbecile is even in Congress, much less the intel committee.

So, I gather Bachmann thinks Kaddafi should be supported by the West because he will use Western weapons to kill Libyans who oppose his dictatorship, and to pay for buying weapons to kill Libyans, Libya will need to sell its oil.